14 Best Ten Frame Games for Kindergarten Math
Discover the best ten frame games for kindergarten and get my free ten frame printable in this blog post. You’ll easily build number sense and math skills with these fun and engaging math ten frame activities.
Have you ever tried to teach number sense to a bunch of wiggly kindergarten kids? If you have, you know it can be quite a challenge.
I used to feel stuck and a bit frustrated when my students just couldn’t grasp the basics, no matter how many times we went over them. Then, I discovered the magic of a ten frame game.
These games make learning fun, engaging, and hands-on, which is exactly what young learners need.
The trick to keeping your kids engaged when you are teaching math is to use games!
Math games turn abstract number concepts into something young students can see and touch. In my classroom, we use ten frames to teach number sense skills, counting, addition, and more.
To make our math lessons enjoyable, the kids play games like Ten-Frame Flash or a Ten-Frame Memory game. These games are not only fun but also help my students internalise important math concepts. It’s amazing how a simple tool like a game can transform your teaching.
If you teach preschool, kindergarten, or grade one, you need to be using ten-frame games!
Turn frustration into excitement!
When children play with ten frames, they quickly grasp important math skills. I love using play to set a strong numeracy foundation.
Whether it’s
laying out counters to match a number
identifying patterns in numbers
or enhancing their problem-solving abilities,
these games keep students engaged and eager to learn.
Understanding Ten Frames
Ten frames are a super handy tool for teaching kindergarten students about numbers. They will help your students grasp the idea of number sense and make learning number concepts up to 10 more fun and visual.
What is a Ten Frame?
A ten frame is a simple, rectangular grid.
It has two rows with five boxes in each row, making a total of ten boxes.
When using ten frames, your students will easily see and count numbers and quantities.
For example, if I placed four counters in a ten frame, the children would see four filled slots. Or if I wanted to show 9, there would be one empty slot left.
Ten frames are great because
they provide a consistent structure for young learners.
they make it easy for the children to visualise numbers.
and the consistent layout helps kids understand how numbers can be constructed or deconstructed.
What is the Purpose of a Ten Frame?
The main goal of using ten frames is to help young students develop a strong number sense. This means understanding how numbers work, how they relate to each other, and how they can be put together or taken apart.
By filling and emptying the ten frame, your students will learn crucial math skills like addition and subtraction.
For example, by placing 8 counters on a ten frame, a child can see that they need 2 more to make 10. This visual aid makes it simple for them to understand the concept of adding and subtracting numbers.
Counting up to 10 becomes easier when they can physically see the numbers too.
Ten frames are valuable for teaching so many math skills and concepts. Have you noticed how often they are referred to in our curriculum documents? There’s a reason for that!
Kindergarten Math Skills Learned with Ten Frames
Using ten frames is a fun way to develop many key math skills in young children. They really are such a powerful tool in the early childhood classroom because they help children develop such a broad range of math skills.
Let’s look a little closer at all those key math skills that ten frames help us to teach:
Build number sense: Ten frames provide a visual representation of numbers. This helps children develop a strong understanding of quantity and number relationships.
By using ten frames, children can visualise numbers and develop a sense of how numbers are constructed and deconstructed.
Creating and Recognising Patterns: Ten frames help children recognise and create patterns because they are a visual tool for identifying arrangements of objects.
Children can easily see increasing or decreasing quantities on a ten frame. Ten frames also help children create repeating patterns. The visual structure of a ten frame helps children order numbers and object sequences.
Subitising with Ten Frames: Subitising is the ability to recognise the number of objects in a set without having to count them individually.
Ten frames promote subitising because students quickly become familiar with the arrangement of dots or counters on the frame, allowing them to quickly determine the quantity.
One-to-One Correspondence: Ten frames reinforce the concept of one-to-one correspondence. That’s where each object or counter corresponds to one count.
As children learn to match each object with a square on their ten frames, they develop a better understanding of the relationships between numbers and quantities.
Counting with Ten Frames: Ten frames build counting skills in young children. Children will practice counting objects when they fill the squares on their ten frames.
The structure of ten frames also helps them to recognise counting patterns. My students often use ten frames to help them count in twos, fives, and tens.
Develop Mathematical Problem Solving Skills: Ten frames offer opportunities for problem-solving activities too. Children can develop their critical thinking skills by working out math problems using a ten frame.
They are perfect for helping children see how many more counters are needed to complete a ten frame or how many counters need to be removed to reach a certain quantity.
Adding and Subtracting: Ten frames help to build the foundation for basic addition and subtraction skills. By visually representing numbers within the frame, children can practice adding or subtracting objects to understand the concept of combining or taking away quantities.
Learn Number Bonds to 10: Ten frames provide a visual representation that helps children see the relationship between numbers and their components.
A ten frame makes it so much easier for children to learn about numbers that make ten because they can physically manipulate numbers within the context of ten.
Number Combinations: Ten frames give children opportunities to explore number combinations and help them to understand different ways to make any given number – not just number bonds to10.
Students can experiment with composing and decomposing any number up to 10. They can explore different numbers by filling their ten frames in various ways.
All this hands-on work helps them see how different numbers can be composed and decomposed.
Learn about Place Value: Understanding place value is crucial in early math. Ten frames help kids learn this concept by visualising and working with ones and tens.
Placing counters on the frames in different ways introduces young students to the concept of grouping quantities too. Understanding how numbers can be grouped is crucial to understanding place value
Spatial Awareness and Fine Motor Skills: Using ten frames requires children to arrange objects within the squares, which develops their spatial awareness.
If you offer your students tweezers to use when manipulating their counters or supply small items to use as counters, this can help develop fine motor skills like hand-eye coordination, the pincer grip, and general hand dexterity.
It's Easy to Differentiate with Ten Frames
Differentiating ten frame activities for kindergarten is a breeze. Because ten frames are open-ended, they easily adapt to each child's developmental level.
Don’t you love it when you can use the exact same resource in many different ways to fit each of your student's needs?
How I Differentiate:
Vary the Materials: I use different materials like counters, pom poms, beads, or even small toys. This keeps it interesting and engages each student.
Adjust the Numbers: I start with smaller numbers for some students and challenge others with larger numbers.
Group Work: I sometimes pair students with similar skills together or mix different skill levels to encourage peer learning.
When you use ten frames this way, each child can find success at their own pace. This is not only assisting their learning but also keeps them more engaged.
Five Frames and Twenty Frames
Have students not ready to work with ten frames? Use Five Frames.
Have students ready to move on from ten frames? Use Twenty Frames.
Adjusting the numbers you are working with is an excellent differentiation strategy.
Five frames and twenty frames are the perfect differentiation tools for your maths tool kit. I think they are essential in any kindergarten classroom where you are teaching basic math concepts in a hands-on way.
Five frames are simple grids with only five slots for counters. They help kids who are just learning to count and understand numbers and are the perfect transition tool for early learners who are not ready for ten frames.
Five frames can be used for:
Counting and sequencing from 1 to 5.
Learning to create simple patterns.
An entry point to math games.
Grab my beautiful printable five frames and prepare your students to work with ten fames.
Twenty frames can be made two ways. They can be a grid with twenty slots or they can be two ten frames joined together.
When your students have mastered numbers to ten and are ready to move on to teen numbers, place value and numbers to twenty, you’ll need some twenty frames. You can use two individual ten-frames, but I like having the twenty frames all on one card.
Twenty frames can be used for:
Counting and representing numbers from 1 to 20.
Compare quantities and explore partitioning.
Composing and decomposing numbers and quantities to 20.
Learning about number bonds to 20.
Visualising addition and subtraction to solve math problems.
Building an early understanding of place value and grouping collections.
Recognising, continuing and creating patterns.
Instantly download a set of printable twenty frames to extend your student’s ten frame skills.
Both five frames and twenty frames support learning across multiple math areas. They can be particularly useful for visual representation of math problems.
When you set up open-ended learning invitations with some loose parts and a few printable resources, you’ll have a math activity that is naturally differentiated.
Reggio Inspired Ten Frame Learning Invitations
I love using Reggio inspired learning invitations to teach maths.
My nature-themed printable ten frames are perfect for this style of teaching. The beautiful nature photos fit perfectly into the aesthetics of my classroom and I think they are a great way to capture the students' interests.
This versatile pack of printable mats is suited to both indoor and outdoor learning areas. It's perfect for a Reggio-inspired learning environment or a Forest school, and it’s great for any type of nature play.
Laminate the ten frames to protect them and create a sturdy resource that can be used over and over again. Once laminated, you’ll have yourself a set of 10 frames that can be used in messy play with water and mud.
So, if you love using sensory play like I do, laminate a few of the printed ten frames so you’ll have them on hand and ready for your next tactile learning experience.
Materials You Might Like to Include in Your Ten Frame Learning Invitations:
Loose parts like stones, counters or other math manipulatives
Dice
Recording sheets for tracking progress
Number and counting posters
Books on counting and numbers
Use my Reggio inspired printable ten frames to quickly and easily create a maths learning invitation that's both engaging and educational.
This Ten Frames Printable Set contains:
• 50 Stunning nature themed blank Ten Frame templates.
• A list of natural loose parts to use with the frames.
• 15 Math learning provocation posters and prompts to print.
• 10 printable I can statements.
• 4 student recording sheets.
Tips for Setting up a Ten-Frame Learning Invitation
Laminate the Ten Frames: This makes them durable for indoor and outdoor activities, even with messy play like water and mud.
Create Nature-Inspired Setups: Use nature-themed ten frames and loose parts. Perfect in a forest school or any nature play area. Don’t have a forest school? Neither do I, but I love using nature-inspired calming visuals to help create a peaceful classroom learning environment.
Hands-on Exploration with Loose Parts: Encourage your students to explore the ten frames using loose parts. If you’d like to learn more about loose parts and get a list of over 150 different loose parts you could use with your ten frames, check out this blog post: Loose Parts Resources
Math Provocations: Add printable math provocation questions and challenges to provoke deeper thinking and ensure you are covering your learning intentions. Here are some ideas: How many different ways can you fill the frame with ten objects? Can you create a pattern in your ten frame?
Want some printable prompts already done for you? I’ve created 115 Reggio Math Provocation Prompts to teach ALL the Number and Algebra content descriptions for Version 9 of ACARA Foundation Stage.
There are heaps of hands-on learning invitation ideas and printables to make your play based math investigation areas quick and easy to set up.
How to Link Ten Frame Play to Math Curriculum Learning Intentions
Wondering how to get your students to practice the skills taught in your math instruction lessons?
When you have played some of the following ten frame games together as a class, you can then add the resources to your learning invitation to encourage students to play these games again at investigation time.
When we have our tuning-in session for the day, I like to remind students about the fun games we have played in class together. This is my secret to encouraging some purposeful independent practice during investigation time.
But honestly, these games are so much fun that I find the children will usually initiate playing the games all by themselves and without my gentle hints!
14 Fun Ten Frame Games for Kindergarten
Ten Frame Flash
Use Ten Frame flash cards to play this quick and easy subitising number game. Use cards with tens frames containing different combinations of dots. Flash a card to your students and get them to subitise the number of dots (say the number without counting the dots).
Then the kids replicate it on their own blank ten frames. I like to show my card again so they can check their work. This is a short and engaging game that has the students practising subitising and composing numbers.
Want a set of ten frame printables you can use as ten frame flash cards?
Get my FREE Download - Set of Ten Frame Flash Card Printables HERE.
2. Ten Frame Memory
This is an excellent independent game for pairs. I print two sets of ten frame cards for a short game. If you want a more challenging or longer game, print four sets. You can print numeral cards as well if you wish. It is played just like a regular memory game.
Arrange the cards face down in an array. The children take turns turning over two cards and identify the amount on each card. If they are the same, they take both cards. The winner is the child with the most cards at the end of the game - when all cards from the array have gone.
For a challenging twist, instead of finding matching quantities, ask students to find two cards that together total ten. You can also set other target values to focus on various number bonds.
3. Make Ten
This is one of our favourite number sense games. The children take turns rolling a dice and placing that number of counters on their blank ten frame. The first one to fill all ten spaces wins. This game is very quick to play unless you use a dice numbered with 0 to 3.
You can play a longer game by giving each child two blank ten frames or a twenty frame to fill out. I’ve got some lovely printable 20 frames HERE that are perfect for this game.
You can practice take away by playing in reverse. Start with twenty counters and remove some with each dice roll.
4. Race to Build Numbers to 10 or 20
I call out a number from 1 to 10, and the kids race to build that amount on their ten frames.
To extend this game, call out numbers 10 to 20. The students can use two ten frames or a specially made twenty frame to build numbers to 20.
5. Number Showdown
Number Showdown is similar to the last game (Race to Build), but instead of calling out the number, you briefly flash a number card.
We always play this version when we are working on our number recognition. The kids race to arrange counters on their ten frames to match the flashed number. The first one to correctly represent the number wins.
When the students are familiar with how to play, they can practice with a friend. The two players face off in a number-building challenge. Each player has a ten-frame and a set of counters. A number card from a deck of cards representing the numbers 1 to 10 is revealed. Both players race to arrange their counters on the ten frames to match the number shown. The player who correctly represents the quantity first wins that round.
6. Ten Frame Copy That
This two-player game requires a folder barrier and blank ten-frame cards. The two players sit opposite each other and use the folder to create a barrier between them. The first player secretly arranges some counters on their blank ten-frame card.
The other player cannot see their arrangement but must try to copy it by asking questions like – “Is the top row full? Are there more than 6 counters? Is there an empty space in the top row?”
I like to make a rule that they can only ask questions that can be answered with a yes or no to make it fun and to build critical thinking.
7. Ten Frame War
This is a great small groups game for 2 to 4 players. You’ll need a set of around 100 counters, a deck of cards with the jacks, queens and kings removed, and each player needs their own ten-frame card.
Similar to the traditional card game of War, players divide the deck of numeral cards evenly. Each player turns over their top card and places the corresponding number of counters on their ten frame.
The player with the highest card number wins the round and collects all the counters. The game continues until one player has collected all the counters.
8. Number Hunt
Want a fun whole class ten frame math game? Hide number cards and matching ten frame cards around your classroom and invite your students to go on a number hunt searching for the hidden cards.
Once they find all the cards, they can match the numeral cards with the corresponding ten frame cards. Then you might like to extend the activity even further by getting them to place the cards in order. This is a great hands-on way to co-construct a number line.
An alternative is to hide only the ten-frame cards. Give each child a number card, and they must search the room for their matching ten-frame card.
My FREE set of printable ten frames is perfect for playing this game. It includes ten frames to represent quantities to 10 and matching numeral cards.
9. Math Storytelling and Number Problems
Using ten frames in storytelling will really engage your students and help them see how we use math in our everyday lives. My kids love it when I use puppets or toys to act out the stories.
Tell some math stories where the characters encounter different problems related to quantities and ten frames.
Here are a few short number stories to get you started:
Emily had 5 apples, but she ate 2. How many apples does she have left?
There were 7 birds in the tree. 3 flew away. How many birds are left?
John had 4 toy cars. His friend gave him 3 more. How many cars does John have now?
Lisa has 8 crayons, but she lost 2. How many crayons does she have left?
There were 6 ducks in the pond. 2 more ducks joined them. How many ducks are there now?
Don’t stress about creating number stories or word problems on the spot.
Download my FREE go-to list of 50 simple number stories HERE so you’ll have a set ready whenever you need them.
10. Number Bonds with Ten Frames
For this game, you’ll need cards with ten frames containing different combinations of dots. Use my free Printable Ten Frame Cards if you don’t already have a set.
Display a ten frame card representing a number up to 10. The kids make the same number displayed with counters of one colour on their own blank ten frames.
Then they must work out how many more they would need to make ten. They will need to count the blank spaces to work out the missing number. They could write the matching number sentence in their books or on little whiteboards.
11. Roll and Write
For this game, you’ll need some blank ten-frame cards, dice and manipulatives like counters. The children roll dice and build that amount on their ten frames. After each roll, get them to record the process as a number sentence.
To extend this game, challenge your students by getting them to start at a number and subtract each time the dice is rolled. Another alternative is to roll multiple dice and ask the students to combine the values by adding or subtracting.
12. What’s the Difference?
This game is fun for comparing numbers. You’ll need two sets of ten frame cards with different combinations of dots. You can use my Free Printable Ten Frames.
The kids turn over two ten frame cards and find the difference. They then collect that many counters. At the end of play, the one with the most counters wins.
13. Ten Frame Train
This is the perfect ten frame activity if you are teaching children to sequence numbers. You’ll need two sets of ten frame cards for each child playing. They shuffle the cards and then make a train by sequencing the random set of ten frame cards in order from 1 to 10 and then back to 1 again. This simple yet engaging activity is perfect for practising counting forwards and backwards.
When they have made their train, get your kids to close their eyes while you turn over some of the cards. Challenge your students to open their eyes and identify which numbers are hidden.
14. Create a Math Game
After playing some of the above games, your students will be ready to create their own ten frame math games. I have found when my students create their own games, they are really using their higher-order thinking and problem-solving skills.
This is a really creative challenge your students will enjoy. You’ll find your students are much more likely to play games they have personally created too.
You can read more about how my students create their own math games and also get a set of free printable ten frames here on this blog post: Free Ten Frame Cards Printable for Hands-on Math Activities.
Free Blank Ten Frame Printable
If you are ready to start playing some of these fun ten frame games with your students, you’ll need some ten frame printables.
Don't miss out on the opportunity to grab my FREE Printable Ten Frame Flashcards from my resource library. These blank ten frame templates are perfect for the games and other hands-on activities.
These free printable ten frames include a variety of ten frame cards. There are blank ten frame templates and cards with ten frames filled with counters representing numbers to 10.
If you are teaching early numeracy and are passionate about making math engaging, these free printables are a must-have! These versatile cards are perfect for playing all the ten frame games in this blog post.
Ten Frame Math Manipulatives
You can’t use ten frames without using some type of math manipulatives. That’s how you make your games and activities hands-on and engaging for your students. Let’s explore some ideas for materials and items you can use for manipulatives.
Using everyday items as ten frame manipulatives can be very effective. I often use loose parts like buttons, bottle caps, or small stones. These items are cheap and often free. They are easy to find and perfect for counting.
Counters such as coloured disks or small toys are also great options.
Playdough is another fantastic manipulative to add. You can shape it into small balls and use them as counters. It’s a tactile experience that kids enjoy and learn from and also a wonderful way to develop fine motor skills.
When we add dice to the mix, it really increases the math learning. The simple addition of a dice makes the activity more fun and interactive. Kids will naturally roll the dice to determine the number of counters to add to the frame. Don’t tell the kids what to do with the dice. Just add it to your learning invitation and see what they do with it. They will probably use it in ways you haven’t thought of, and it all helps to make the learning invitation personalised and suited to their needs.
In Conclusion
In this blog post we have explored various ten frame games for kindergarten.
These games help children build a strong foundation in number sense and math skills. Plus, they're super fun and engaging!
Building numbers using items like stones or buttons on a ten frame is an awesome activity for teaching number sense but there’s so much more you can do with a ten frame.
Don't forget to download my free ten frames printable and grab my beautiful nature inspired Bundle of Five, Ten and Twenty Frames to help you play these ten frame games with your kindergarten students.
You won’t need to worry about keeping your students engaged and learning any more. A ten frame game is a great tool for teaching kindergarten kids math skills - all while having heaps of fun!